Meet Toni Newman August 23, 2024 – Posted in: Press

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Toni Newman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Toni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

Equality California was fighting for LGBTQ marriage in California and I joined as a fundraising canvasser helping to raise money for LGBTQ equality. I was the only transgender individual working there at the time and I was so excited to raise money for LGBTQ equality. People who were rude and homophobic confronted us but we fought on and won marriage in the state of California. I learned to stay the course and that equality work is difficult in this job. The work was hard, but I started my course as an activist, fighting for equality. It taught me if you believe in something, you must fight for it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the Director of The Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements at NMAC (National Minority AIDS Conference) based in Washington DC. The Coalition unites diverse movements in a common effort to fight and increase awareness of the common threats that we face to our rights, our privacy, our security, and our health and well-being.

The Coalition partners with other movement-related organizations and networks to participate in the work, ensuring the broadest possible diversity of participants and constituencies (e.g., health care organizations, civil rights organizations, anti-poverty advocates, housing advocates, organizations and networks of communities of color, LGBTQ organizations, women’s rights organizations, voting rights groups, progressive faith-based groups, etc.).

Coalition members, individually and collectively, will educate the public regarding the linked, intersectoral legal, and political threats confronting diverse movements. This work will undertake advocacy to promote sound, timely policies to address these threats, including but not limited to the rights to healthcare access. The Coalition fights for women: seniors, youth, transgender, and LGBTQ rights. Every American deserves fair and equal treatment.

I am also the Chair of the Board of Transcanwork in Los Angeles. Transcanwork envisions a world where the barriers to employment for TGNC individuals are dismantled, and where they can pursue fulfilling careers free from discrimination and prejudice. This vision encompasses several key elements that enable empowerment, equality, and dignity for transgender workers everywhere. The five key elements are:
Equal Opportunity
Inclusive Workplaces
Supportive Policies
Education and Awareness
Career Development

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Yes, I believe this is my mission in life to fight for those unable to fight for themselves. For almost 15-plus years, I have been fighting for marginalized communities by using the law to make sure all Americans have the same rights regardless of race, sex, and gender. Equality is for everyone no matter who they are.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started in this work, I was told no one cared what I thought or about my feelings. I had to learn that every American under the constitution is equal and no one can take the rights of others away because they have power. We all have value and worth regardless of our race, sex, and gender.

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